Residents could be charged $50 per tire

The Ironton City Council is considering an ordinance to charge residents who leave trash, debris, furniture and tires on their property.

Ordinance 18-31 got a first reading at Thursday’s meeting and if passed, would establish a fee schedule for removal of trash.

If the city removes trash and debris from a property, it would cost $70 “per one level pick-up truck load” and $80 for each additional load.

The removal of appliances and furniture would be $30 for the first item and $20 for each additional item.

The sticker shock for some people will be the removal of tires, since it would be $50 per tire.

Mayor Katrina Keith asked for a small change to the ordinance.

“Can we amend that so it reads we do no pick up construction material,” she asked the council before the ordinance was read. She said she had talked with Street Superintendent  Mike Pemberton and said they were concerned that the construction companies would just use the city to haul off their materials rather than paying a private contractor. “So, we definitely don’t want to take on that responsibility, just household items.”

The council agreed and amended the ordinance accordingly.

In other items on the agenda, the council had first reading on amending the budget.

They also passed a resolution to move forward on repairs of a city fountain.

The fountain on South Third and Center streets needs to have a pump replaced and the lights repaired. The passage of the resolution authorizes Keith to apply for grant from the Foundation for the Tri-State Community.

Vice-Mayor Rich Blankenship announced that this would be the final meeting for one of their solicitors, Bob Anderson, who is retiring after 40 years as an attorney and 22 years of being a city solicitor, along with his brother, Mack. Anderson was given a key to the city for his decades of service to Ironton.

Keith said that she will be having a town hall meeting on Facebook at 6 p.m. on Aug. 2 to discuss the status of the city and it’s financial situation.

“We said we were going to be transparent,” she said. “So, we are just going to lay this all out for the citizens and give them an opportunity to hear it all.”